Monthly Archives: December 2015

In July, months before ladies’ fashions graced New York Fashion Week, the first ever NYFW: Men’s took place. Many of the shows were met with rave reviews, proving that American menswear designers mean serious business. Since womenswear has been getting a lot of press lately, it so seems only fair to look back at some of the great men’s pieces that swept the runway this summer. You’ll be surprised at how many of these looks you can wear every day.

1. Wearing One Color Head to Toe

Image via Imaxtree

Shirts and pants in the same color were big on the runway. Maybe it’s because wearing one color makes you longer and leaner. You can channel the same look by pairing your favorite dark jeans with a navy shirt. The black, fringe-like necklace is completely optional.

2. Mixing It Up With a Printed Sweater

Image via Imaxtree

Solid colors are your safe haven; we get it. But stepping outside your comfort zone every once in a while is a good thing. Dip your feet into the waters of printed sweaters by pairing one with a neutral pant.

3. Adding a Pop of Color.

Image via Imaxtree

You’ve probably heard your wife or girlfriend say, “I’m wearing too much black. I need some color.” The same rule applies to men. Mix up your standard suit by pairing it with a bright coral button-down. Wear a yellow t-shirt with your jeans instead of the usual white.

4. Wearing a Trench Coat

Image via Imaxtree

A long, long time ago, a trench coat hung in every man’s closet. When fashion etiquette started to relax and become more informal, the trench coat slowly left men’s wardrobes. Thankfully, however, more and more men are embracing a more tailored, formal look, and the trench coat is slowly gaining momentum again. Wear a trench with anything from a button-down and jeans to a suit.

5. Investing in a Leather Jacket

Image via Imaxtree

Indiana Jones and Marlon Brando wore one, and even Tom Cruise wore one in “Top Gun”: a leather jacket. Though the leather jacket has been synonymous with cool, bad boy style, few men actually wear them in real life. You can easily pair a black, classic leather jacket with your more formal outfits, or pair a brown, vintage one with jeans for a more relaxed feel.

Temperatures are getting cooler. Our favorite jeans, long sleeves, sweaters, scarves, and hats are being brought out from deep down in the closet. The question is, are those pieces from last year still trendy? More than likely with a couple adjustments, they are. Here are some tips when putting your looks together for fall fashion which is approaching rather quickly.

Scarves: If you are wearing a rather simple, sophisticated outerwear look, use a bold colored scarf to make it stylish. Hermes did exactly this in their fall 2015 menswear fashion show. Wearing a gray suit with a statement scarf is a must-have for fall and winter collection.

Dismantle Your Suit: If you have plans after work and you need to dress casual, make sure you wear the right pieces for your workday. If you plan on wearing your gray suit, make sure to wear either a simple, solid color dress shirt or a patterned one. This way when work is done, you can take off the jacket, undo the top couple buttons of your shirt, and look like a stylish gentlemen. For instance, choose paisley, plaid, polka dots, something that will make you stand out in the right way. When it comes to stripes, if you have a pinstripe suit and undershirt with stripes the same width, rock it. Givenchy did exactly this in his Fall 2015 Menswear Collection.

Patterned Suit: If you’ve got one that is easy on the eyes, yet intriguing, rock it this fall. However, do make sure it’s full of neutrals and not full of pastels (Do note that shades of red should be in your wardrobe as well). Fall is the season for neutrals and that’s exactly what Louis Vuitton presented.

Knits: These were in style last fall, and are yet again in style this fall. Top designers around the globe are making traditionally feminine knitted pieces and making them stylish and trendy for men. What is that piece exactly? A skirt. Givenchy used various knitted skirts paired with a pant leg and jacket in the 2015 fall collection. It’s something every man should consider and see if he can pull it off.

One last tip for my men out there, facial hair is great. However, even though it is considered “No Shave November,” I would advise you to at least trim it so it looks nice, and not straggly and food-filled like a caveman’s.

There is no doubt that the inspiration for Bernhard Willhelm’s latest collection was bananas. There were fabric bananas hanging from various pieces as well as embroidered bananas and painted bananas. You name it; it was probably in his collection.

Willhelm played with boundaries this year in terms of Ready To Wear. It’s a playful collection that is vibrant and questionable and encourages consumers to wear something out of the ordinary. The looks are far from what we would see out on the streets today, which to some isn’t exactly what Ready To Wear collections should be about. The only stylish trend in the collection was the socks and sandals that many of Willhelm’s models were wearing. But the sandals and socks that were chosen weren’t exactly something that a consumer would see in store today.

On the plus side, though, Bernhard Willhelm did play with more feminine pieces on a male. It’s a nice change that more and more designers are doing. Willhelm clearly pushed boundaries, which is a huge compliment because some designers still can’t figure out how to do that.

Just where will this collection take society? Only time will tell us that. Until then, I’m sure the hipsters will be all over this collection. It fits them perfectly in terms of fashion aesthetics. Maybe they can teach the rest of society how to make this flattering for all figures and consumers alike.

Whether you heard it here first or on the news, it was bound to come out. The athletic apparel industry has thousands of companies around the globe that sell thousands of products. There is a new one out there though worth mentioning: Ten Thousand.

“Nothing more than everything you need” is the company’s motto. They only sell two “essential” products: Foundation Shirt and Foundation Shorts. The shirt comes in black, grey, or navy while the shorts only come in black.

The shirt is made from a “custom integration of merino wool and synthetic fibers.” It is meant to be as flexible as the wearer may need. It is moisture-wicking and the company claims that it blocks odors. I’m not sure about you, but I personally will be waiting for the reviews about that. I have a “desire” , need for the odor blocking shirt to say the least.

The foundation shorts are made of “next generation fabrics,” and there is even an option for a built-in liner, which offers more comfort and convenience. The best part about the shorts is that there are side pockets that are zippered! It is hard to come by a pair of athletic shorts that are fashionable, trendy, and possess pockets, let alone zippered ones.

This company is quite unique not only in the two products they developed but also in what they do and want their consumers to take part in. They have opened up their product development process to not just the investors, but to everyone. They plan to share every new sketch, concept and idea right on their website. Ten Thousand is simply asking that in return the consumer gives the company their honest feedback along the way. Their company has set a goal to “create the best performance apparel possible, tailored to real training needs.”

Will they be able to take on the big companies like Adidas group or Nike? Only time will tell. How long they will take consumer feedback is another question. Until then though, I will personally be giving my feedback and watching this company closely. They have the right ideas in their company mission statement. As a potential consumer, I hope that concept stays.

Foundation Shorts, $48 – $55. Available at tenthousand.ccFoundation shirt, $45. Available at tenthousand.cc

Over the past year, society’s 20-35-year-olds have battled over which body is more attractive. Buzzfeed and major news agencies alike have published articles supporting the “Dad Bod” while there are countless articles throughout the Internet showing us mostly nude, very defined muscular males with washboard abs from around the globe. So which one is right for you? Well, I’ll let you decide that in the end, but here are some advantages and disadvantages to both.

According to Urban Dictionary, Dad Bod is defined as, “A guy who has kids and was once in shape and still has guns that can crush beer cans but also with a belly that says I drank those beers and I can eat 6 slices of pizza in one seating.” Used in a sentence, “Check out all those chicks all over Mike’s dad bod at the pool (top definition). Others describe it as “softly round,” while others describe it as a person who possesses laziness.

It is generally found in males who have started a family and find it acceptable to let themselves go (for a lack of better words). They generally drink and eat what they want. Maybe they hit the gym here and there, but their primary focus is continuing to provide food on the table and financial and emotional support for their family. On the flip side, a man who has this body type and is single may not exactly turn heads while out running errands or at the bar. The assumption will be that that man is taken because if he weren’t, he’d be working a much better body THAN that.

So just who has the stereotypical dad bod? Actors such as Leonardo Dicaprio, Jason Segal, and X Factor UK judge Simon Cowell all were rocking it before it was cool. Those individuals not only have the audacity to flaunt what they’ve got but also are the icons for those in love with the dad bod.

Urban Dictionary’s top definition for athletic is, “Body type characterized by a lean, sinewy, muscular physique (NOT scrawny, but not muscle-bound like a bodybuilders’ or obese). Despite the name, many non-athletes have athletically shaped bodies due simply to a healthy lifestyle.” They are in no way “athletically challenged.”

What does that mean? Well, for starters it means you have defined muscles to accompany a lean build. Some relate the words sexy, cute, amazing, hot, strong and perfect to a man that has an athletic bod. Females and gay men alike will more than likely turn their heads when a man with the “perfect physique” walks by them.

Actor Zac Efron, professional soccer player David Beckham, and NFL star Colin Kaepernick all have the stereotypical athletic body. They no doubt turn heads every time they go somewhere, not only because of their endless amounts of money but also because of their physical body appearance.

There is some dedication involved to obtain a “Dad Body,” such as drinking beer, showing up to the gym about once a week, paying incredibly close attention to sports, and making sure your family is well taken care of. Likewise though, the athletic bod requires a large amount of attention to eating right and exercising. So which one is for you? There are advantages to both. There is no doubt about that.

On Tuesday, October 20, The Citizen Watch Company of America launched a new piece of technology called the Satellite Wave-World Time GPS. This GPS technology will have the fastest GPS sync time to date and includes worldwide reception.

The launch of the revolutionized technology in their marvelous timepiece was celebrated in New York City at Time Square. The event hosted by Citizen was called “Time, Space and Innovation,” associating all their grant accomplishments within the world of watches and technology.

Image via Courtesy Photo

Professor of physics and mathematics at Columbia University, Brian Greene, engulfed the audience with his perspective on “Time and Einstein”. Besides being a credited professor, Greene is a successful author and has written several books whereof The Elegant Universe, The Fabric of the Cosmos and The Hidden Reality collectively have spent 65 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.

Artist Michael Benson also spoke at the event and premiered images from “Otherworlds: Visions of Our Solar System.” This exhibition will be opening for the interested at the Natural History Museum in London next year.

Image via Courtesy Photo

Provided by Oded Aharonson, there was an illuminating perspective of the mystery of telling time in space. Aharonson is the professor of earth and planetary sciences at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel. Also, Professor Aharonson has been working with NASA on many occasions, investigating flight missions like the Mars Exploration Rovers and Cassini Mission to Saturn.

Jeffery Cohen, the President of Citizen Watch Company of America, stated, “We could not be more pleased to introduce our important new advancements in Citizen Satellite Wave technology with this stellar team of leaders from the worlds of science, space and innovation. This event is an exciting acknowledgement of our brand’s extraordinary history in technological firsts.”

Image via Courtesy Photo

A special honor was given that evening by the Citizen Watch Company of America and the New Jersey Center of Teaching and Learning. The honor went to physics student and Bergen County Technical School Senior Michelle Baird as a “Science Star of the Future”, recognizing her exceptional and excellent skills and gumption, which is an inspiration to her academic community.

Being one of the leading and most thorough specialists in the field of watches, Citizen Watch Company of America has invented and manufactured spectacular watches. Besides this they have, as presented at the “Time, Space and Innovation” event, both improved and created technologies that have created a new path for the future of timekeeping with their Eco-Drive technology and state-of-the-art satellite-synchronized timekeeping.

Citizen Watch Company of America was established in 1918 and has since enriched the world not only with elegant watches but also revolutionizing technologies. Their motto “Better Starts Now”, implying that no matter what time or under what circumstances, there is always the possibility to make something better, and now is that time. It is a motto that they have undoubtedly lived up to and proved to be right.

The world is set to be inundated with global debuts from the world’s leading automotive companies, thanks to the 2016 North American International Auto Show. Opening its doors on January 16th to the public (January 11th for the press), the Cobo Center in Detroit, Michigan will be packed to the brim with the best minds in the automobile industry, showing off what you can look forward to in the future. The show will continue until January 24th, when the public will no longer be allowed entrance.

Marking its 28th year running, the NAIAS (North American International Auto Show) will be sure to generate a considerable amount of buzz. The show’s slogan, “All roads lead to Detroit” should tell you everything you need to know about the importance of this convention. It is set to have over 750 innovative designs on exhibit, with many surprises to come.

English: The in the Cobo Center station of the People Mover in , . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Next year’s show will boast more than 70% new booths and altered locations for participating companies in the building, so even frequent visitors should find the show to have a different feeling compared to previous years. An important note to make is that the Cobo Center has completed its $280 million renovations, so expect a very high tech and flashy atmosphere. The current plans for the event include: a Technology Showcase providing looks at breakthrough innovations, the Eyes on Design Awards where the best cars of the year are celebrated, an Education Day where minds of all ages are welcomed to further engage in lessons and tours, the annual Auto Show Shuffle where entrants can race on foot through Detroit, and the Michelin Challenge Design Competition where teams submit scale models and renderings in a highly competitive academic contest.

Charitable patrons will be able to purchase tickets to the January 15th Charity Preview for $400 per ticket (of which $390 is tax deductible). Those who attend this preview will have access to an extremely exclusive formal event in the name of raising money for charity.

You can be sure to expect all the most important car manufacturers to have a presence, including: Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Ford and Mercedes-Benz, to name a few. Chairman of the 2016 NAIAS, Paul Sabatini, has said that the number of unveilings at this show will be similar to previous years, of which 90% will be global debuts. With only a few scant weeks left until the show opens, workers at the center are hard at work getting the building ready. It is only a matter of time before we get to see all of the plans that are being kept under wraps.

English: Panorama Stitch of Cobo Center during 2011 North American International Auto Show (Photo credit: Wikipedia)